This system sounds great for the money spent, but is a definite upgrade candidate. My fantasy is to replace the NAD with a good tube front end, like Manley, e.g. The speaks still rock but are also upgrade candidates. The LP12 is strong but showing its age. The cdp is updated but not nearly as sonically refined as the best players from AudioNote, or even Jolida. Overall the imaging and tonal balance is very good, with varied, but quality source material.
I would love to see some ProAcs or perhaps planars, if they are not obscenely power hungry, in the system. FIrst I will
probably see what some well chosen tubes can do to warm up the sound, especially that of the digital front end. A killer cdp or SACD is definitely high on the list. Suggestions are welcome, I know there is vast room for improvement, but it doesn't suck. I actually only have a total of about $ 3,400 in everything, all bought new at the time except for the Linn.
Gee, it is only taking me a year to thank you for your excellent suggestions. I have heard of and considered, but not actually heard Jolida, so it is nice to read comments from someone who has. I am still on the lookout for Synthesis. I know you can get by happily with a few good tube watts combined with an easy speaker load, but Coincident Technology and Avant Garde are more than I care to spend right now, even used. B & W's are excellent, but only some models(the ones that cost as much as my roadster) have really grabbed me. I also seem to remember they are just average in efficiency. As you can tell, I am not moving quickly on this, but research is certainly half the fun. Right now my priority is a new cartridge for the Linn(little fingers did in the Linn K9 that was on there).
I started with an NAD integrated, then went all the way to a 200 wpc stereo amp, and you know what I am using now with my B&W matix 804's? Two 8 watt(!!!) per channel monoblocks by Audio Note. Not for a bass freak, but in my new apt I have to do nearfield listening and these amps have microdynamics that are scary real. As far as tube amps, it really depends on your priorities. The CJ MV55 and MV60 are classics, but they are really soggy in the bass in my experience. Audio Research makes tube gear with tight bass, but less midrange magic. I'll tell you what: you should try a Jolida integrated amp. 50 watts per channel, and you'll never go back to SS again, and new it goes for just under a grand. For digital sound, I'm not a fan of Audio Note affordable DAC's (but their afforadable amps and preamps are soooooo nice). I would highly suggest you try out the Benchmark Media DAC1. You can order from them direct and try it for 30 days no risk. It's $800 dollar sound in my room beats everything except DAC's in the $3000 category. Wide, deep, open, airy, silky, nonfatiguing sound. combind that with the jolida amp, and you've got some serious high end sound. Another choice for an integrated is a brand called Synthesis from Italy. They have a 25 wpc integrated tube amp for a grand and a 40 wpc integrated tube amp for 2k. These amps have less of a liquid midrange, but a more accurate one, and the bass is deep and tight, with a tonal balance that would integrate nicely with the vandersteen sound. They are more expensive per watt than the Jolida, but boy do they look cool (red wood base and black tube cage...like a little caboose), and they sound ALOT like the ARC VS55 and VS110's. I've seen Jolida and Synthesis selling used, which might be easier than finding a dealer. Lots to think about I know, but that's the hobby!!! Just my two cents from a little experience. Just so you know, a tube amp sounds a LOT more powerful than a SS amp. So if you are working with 25 wpc now with the NAD, using an 8 or 10 watt amp is not ridiculous. Like the audiophile above go for good watts rather than lots of cheap watts. As far as speakers, the small proacs are nice, but I prefer the Spendor 3.5 or 3.1. I also prefer B&W (matix 805, nautilus 805, or 705). If you can find a used pair of any of these, or new, you will love the more open less congested sound to the vandersteens in my honest opinion.
Thank you one and all. Hey, I know this is overdue.
I am still looking at options. If a good deal on a CJ comes along, I might just jump on it.
On the speaker side, I did hear the ProAc Tablette Signatures with a strong front end(Audio Research VT100) and they were amazing. Of course, my 1 B's would sound better with a $ 5000 AR tube amp in front of them too no doubt, and have better bass, if not quite the monitor imaging and staging of the Tablettes.
I have heard a ProAc 1.5/Stingray/AudioNote CDP setup sound scary good, but could not tell how much of that was room-treatment, Solar Wind Cables, or the $4K AudioNote. I still figure the Manley and ProAcs deserve most of the credit, but it would have been interesting to hear the same system in an untreated room, or even with analog.
I have always heard about, but not actually heard, much C-J gear. Hopefully that will change.
I suggest looking at the Proac 2.5 if you want bass. Very refined and balanced from top to bottom. Proac1SC's are the ticket if you aren't a bass hog. These speakers have the appropriate sensitivity to run beautifully on single ended amps with as little as 13watts so don't worry about power, just worry about clean real power.
I would get a used Conrad Johnson pre-amp, a PV12A will be a good choice: the phono section is quite good. As for an amp, it depends on your speaker, musical choice and room size. The C-J will work with almost any amp. I heard your 1b speaker and it is very good and a pretty good match for tubes, so I would concentrate on the amp rather than changing the speakers. Of course a C-J MV55 might fit the bill or a Musical Fidelity SS could be a good choice as well. This set up will really smooth the sound and should give you enough power for anything. I had a C-J for years and it never gave me any trouble so I love them.
